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Nqobile Tshili
GWANDA State University (GSU) has completed the construction of its Engineering Laboratory and Innovation Complex, with focus now on equipping the facility to provide cutting edge services in the mining industry.
The facility is expected to help the country trim costs at a time when most mining firms are forced to seek foreign expertise in sampling of precious minerals.
The Engineering Laboratory and Innovation Complex is part of the buildings that are under construction at one of the youngest universities in the country whose mandate is to address mining and agricultural challenges in Zimbabwe.
Situated at the Epoch Mine Campus in Insiza District, the Engineering Laboratory and Innovation Complex would be equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to address challenges that have seen mining companies exporting precious minerals for sampling purposes.
GSU Vice Chancellor, Professor Doreen Zandile Moyo, told Chronicle that with the cutting edge equipment to be installed at the laboratory the country will benefit more.
“The construction of the laboratory has been completed and we are now working towards equipping it and in the near future we will be commissioning it,” she said.
“It’s relevant in the sense that it will ensure that our research answers the needs of the miners. We want to have state-of-the-art equipment so that we can localise sampling of precious minerals.
“There are many precious and semi-precious minerals in Zimbabwe, some are not known and that laboratory will help us identify some of the minerals,” said Prof Moyo.
“It means that the miners can bring their samples and we can tell them what sort of minerals are present. I think it will cut costs as opposed to sending samples outside the country,” she added.
“There will be no need to waste the precious foreign currency, we will simply bring them here. I think it would be the first one in the country to offer such services. I know big mining companies are sending their samples outside.”
Prof Moyo said as per President Mnangagwa’s promise to support the growth of the institution, the university is on the verge of completing the construction of the Agro Innovation Complex, which is at roof level and the contractor has already been paid to finish off the work whose completion would contribute to the Matabeleland South-based university increasing programmes on offer.
“It will increase the number of programmes that we are offering. We are a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) university and we want to offer food science and it will be critical in the value addition of our products,” said Prof Moyo.
“We are more into crop and livestock production, we have wheat and we have other animals. So, having food science is very critical because those are the people that normally do value addition,” she said.
Prof Moyo said the university also intends to introduce a software engineering programme following the completion of its 120-seater computer laboratory. She said GSU envisions starting some of the programmes next year as they are in the process of being accredited.
“The Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE) is in the process of accrediting some of the new programmes. What was holding us was the completion of the laboratory because the accreditation process also looks at physical infrastructure,” she said.
“We also want to introduce Geology because it will be relevant in light of the Engineering Laboratory and Innovation Complex that will be completed soon,” said Prof Moyo.
She commended the Government for the support it has given for the growth of the university, enabling it to be involved in practical works that address national and community problems.
“We have got a lot of support, especially on the agro innovation side of things. We have an Agro Innovation Hub, and Industrial Park, which was fully funded by the Government. We have 425-head of Brahman heifers, we have 18 hectares of wheat with a centre pivot funded by the Government and we are going to start other projects that are in the pipeline,” said Prof Moyo.
“We also have a hay baler, and we make our own hay from within and outside. We work with farmers and it goes as far as Somabhula.”
“Through growing wheat we are contributing to national food security and another reason why we are growing wheat is that we want to make feed from the straws and mix it with chicken droppings.
“Remember we said we have 2 000 layers and some broilers. So, I think it will contribute to making sure our animals have adequate feed.”
Speaking during the university’s 2023 graduation ceremony, President Mnangagwa committed to enabling the growth of the university and ensuring that it makes positive a impact on the community and the country at large.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter